Constitutional Court Rejects Challenge to Expired Internet Quota for Indonesian Citizens — Here Is Why

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The petition challenging the “data quota expiry” scheme proposed by Rachmad Rofik ended without result after the Constitutional Court (MK) said the petition could not be accepted. The MK asserted that the petition was rejected because it failed to provide evidence required as a formal criterion in filing a case.

The ruling was read in the decision-reading session of Case Number 30/PUU-XXIV/2026 in the MK plenary chamber on Monday, 2 March 2026. In the legal considerations read by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra, the Court found that up to the preliminary examination stage, the petitioner had not submitted the required evidence to support the constitutional review. Thus, the petition did not meet the formal requirements; even though the MK is competent to adjudicate it, it cannot proceed to the substantive stage.

Chief Justice Suhartoyo then read the ruling:

“Declares Petition No. 30/PUU-XXIV/2026 not admissible,” stated Suhartoyo in an official MK statement quoted on its official website, Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

In his petition, Rachmad Rofik challenged Article 71(2) of Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation which regulates tariffs and the framework for telecommunications services. The petitioner argued the regulation affords operators the ability to apply data quota expiry schemes unilaterally without compensation to consumers.

In the preliminary examination hearing held on 28 January 2026, the petitioner explained he had previously purchased a 10 GB data package in full payment. However, he received a notification that the quota would expire on 4 January 2026. He argued that paid-for data quotas should be private property with economic value, and the expiry scheme constitutes unilateral appropriation of consumer property.

The petitioner also argued the regulation creates legal uncertainty when compared with other energy sectors. Therefore, he requested the MK declare that the provision is unconstitutional. He also proposed reinterpreting the rule so that operators would be required to provide data rollover, extend the validity period while prepaid cards remain active, or return the remaining quota value to consumers proportionally when the package ends.